System and method for controlling radio frequency transceiver and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A system and a method of controlling an RF transceiver are provided. The system includes a key input unit for detecting a key selection, a memory unit storing control data required for operating the RF transceiver and a code table matching with a key value, a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying operational information of the RF transceiver, a controller for turning off the LCD that is in an on-state when a data transmitting/receiving request is detected from the key input unit and turning on the LCD when the data transmitting/receiving is completed, and an RF transmitting/receiving unit for modulating a transmitting signal, power-amplifying the transmitting signal, transmitting the amplified signal as an RF signal to an object device through an antenna, and receiving a response signal as an RF signal from the object device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0110414 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 9, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and a method for controlling an RF transceiver that can improve a data transmitting/receiving performance by turning off a liquid crystal display (LCD) during the transmitting/receiving of data when a data transmitting/receiving request to/from an object device is detected.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A small, portable transceiver, such as a remote controller, that uses a battery, which is a limited energy source, as a power source employs an LCD, which has relatively low power consumption, as a display unit for displaying an operation state. In addition, the small, portable transceiver uses an RF communication method in order to obtain a more stable communication area in a local area network.

When the LCD of the RF transceiver operates, radio waves generated by the operation of the LCD interferes with an RF signal that is transmitted and received, thereby attenuating the RF transmitting/receiving signal and converting the RF transmitting/receiving signal into noise.

Therefore, in the conventional RF transceiver, the LCD used as the display unit is physically shielded and an RF transmitting/receiving unit is spaced apart from the LCD as far as possible to prevent the RF transmitting/receiving signal from interfering with the radio waves generated from the LCD and to minimize the generation of noise.

However, the physical structure cannot sufficiently protect the RF transmitting/receiving signal from the radio waves generated by the operation of the LCD, and thus there is still the attenuation of the RF transmitting/receiving signal.

In the conventional transceiver, the transmitting power is maintained to be high to provide transmitting reliability of the RF signal to the object device.

When the transmitting power is maintained to be high, the battery, which is a limited energy source, does not last very long. This causes the deterioration of the reliability of the product.

Further, when a response signal is transmitted as the RF signal from the object device, the response signal interferes with the radio waves from the LCD that maintains the on-state, thereby generating noise. Further, by the interference of the response signal with the radio waves from the LCD, the response signal is attenuated, and thus this response signal is not normally detected. This causes the operation error of the transceiver.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a system and a method for controlling an RF transceiver that can prevent interference and attenuation of an RF transmitting/receiving signal by turning off an LCD that is in an on-state when the data transmitting/receiving request to/from an object device is detected, and by turning on the LCD when it is determined that the data transmitting/receiving is completed, thereby providing an RF signal transmitting/receiving stability and reducing power consumption.

In an exemplary embodiment, a system for controlling an RF transceiver includes a key input unit for detecting a key selection, a memory unit storing control data required for operating the RF transceiver and a code table matching with a key value, an LCD for displaying operational information of the RF transceiver, a controller for turning off the LCD that is in an on-state when a data transmitting/receiving request is detected from the key input unit and turning on the LCD when the data transmitting/receiving is completed, and an RF transmitting/receiving unit for modulating a transmitting signal, power-amplifying the transmitting signal, transmitting the amplified signal as an RF signal to an object device through an antenna, and receiving a response signal as an RF signal from the object device.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of controlling an RF transceiver includes determining if a data transmitting/receiving request from a key input unit is detected in a standby mode where an LCD maintains an on-state; converting, when the data transmitting/receiving request is detected, data into a code value and turning off the LCD; modulating the converted code value, power-amplifying the modulated code value, and transmitting the amplified code value as an RF signal; determining if the data transmitting/receiving is completed by analyzing a response signal that is transmitted as an RF signal from an object device; and turning on the LCD when it is determined that the data transmitting/receiving is completed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for controlling an RF transceiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an RF transceiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS INDICATING PRIMARY ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWINGS

10: Key Input Unit 20: Memory Unit

30: Controller 40: LCD

50: RF Transmitting/Receiving Unit 60: LED

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration.

As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for controlling an RF transceiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an RF transceiver control system of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an input unit 10, a memory unit 20, a controller 30, an LCD 40, an RF transmitting/receiving unit 50, and an LED 60.

The key input unit 10 is a key matrix having one or more number keys and one or more function keys for selecting a variety of functions. The key input unit 10 detects a key value selected by a user through a voltage drop and sends a signal corresponding to the key value to the controller 20.

The memory unit 20 stores control data required for operating the RF transceiver and a code table for converting a key value required for transmitting the data.

When the RF transceiver is a multipurpose remote controller, a control code table of a lessened control object device is stored in the memory unit 20.

The controller 30 controls an operation of the RF transceiver. That is, when the data transmitting/receiving request to/from the object device is detected from the key input unit 30, the controller 30 turns off the LCD 40 to prevent the RF signal from interfering with the radio waves generated from the LCD 40 and thus to prevent the RF signal from being attenuated.

When the data transmitting/receiving request to/from the object device is detected from the key input unit 30, the controller 30 turns off the LCD 40 and performs an RF signal transmitting/receiving to/from the object device through the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50. When the completion of the data transmitting/receiving is detected, the controller 30 turns on the LCD 40.

As described above, the LCD 40 is turned on and off in accordance with a control signal from the controller 30 and displays operational information of the RF transceiver using letters or graphics in accordance with a predetermined method.

The RF transmitting/receiving unit 50 modulates and amplifies the transmission signal applied from the controller 30 and transmits the same as the RF signal to the object device through an antenna ANT. The RF transmitting/receiving unit receives RF signal data and a response signal on the receiving completion from the object device through the antenna ANT and modulates and amplifies the received signal. Then, the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50 transmits the amplified signal to the controller 30.

The LED 60 displays the operation state of the RF transceiver when the LCD 40 is turned off in accordance with the control signal of the controller 30.

The following will describe a method for controlling an on/off operation of the LCD during the RF signal transmitting/receiving with reference to FIG. 2.

The controller 30 maintains an on-state of the LCD 40 in a standby mode, and it is determined if a key input is detected from the key input unit 10 in the standby mode (S101, S102).

At this point, when the key input is detected in accordance with a contact point selection of the user, it is determined that there is a data transmitting/receiving request to/from the object device and a detected key value is stored in a temporary memory (not shown).

The detected key value is applied to the code table stored in the memory unit 20 and is converted into a code value that can match with the key value (S103).

Next, the LCD 40 that is in an on-state is controlled to be turned off to prevent the RF transmitting/receiving signal from interfering with the radio waves generated from the LCD 40 that is operating, and thus prevents the attenuation of the RF transmitting/receiving signal.

When the LCD 40 is controlled to be turned off, the code value matching with the key value is applied to the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50.

Therefore, the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50 modulates a transmitting code value applied from the controller 30, power-amplifies the same up to a predetermined level, converts the amplified value into an RF signal, and transmits the RF signal to the object device (S105).

After the above, when there is a response from the object device with respect to the RF signal transmission, the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50 receives an RF response signal (S106).

Then, the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50 modulates the RF response signal transmitted through the antenna ANT, gain-amplifies the RF response signal, and transmits the amplified signal to the controller 30.

In a state where the LCD 40 is turned off as described above, the RF signal transmitting/receiving state is displayed through the LED 60 by the control of the controller 30 (S107).

Next, it is determined if the RF signal transmitting/receiving is completed by analyzing the response signal transmitted from the object device (S108).

The completion of the RF signal transmitting/receiving is determined by analyzing information contained in the response signal provided by the object device.

In S108, if it is determined that the RF signal transmitting/receiving is completed, the LCD 40 that is in the off-state is turned on (S109) and the RF signal transmitting/receiving result is displayed by numbers, letters, and/or graphics (S110).

In the previous description, the completion of the RF signal transmitting/receiving is determined by analyzing information contained in the response signal transmitted from the object device.

However, the RF transceiver may be designed not to communicate with the object device in a two-way manner but to communicate with the object device in a one-way manner. At this point, when there is no code transmission for a predetermined time after a code corresponding to a key value input from the key input unit 10 is transmitted as the RF signal, it is determined that the RF signal transmission is completed and thus the LCD 40 is turned on.

A case where one or more RF transceiver transmits or receives an RF signal to or from one host will be described by way of example.

The host always maintains a standby state. In the RF transceiver of FIG. 1, the memory unit 20 stores a device identification (ID) of the RF transceiver.

When a data transmitting/receiving to/from the host is request in one of the RF transceivers by the user, the controller 30 turns off the LCD 40 that is in the on-state.

As the LCD 40 is turned off, no radio waves are generated. Therefore, the interference of the RF signal with the radio waves can be prevented and thus the attenuation of the RF signal can be prevented.

Next, the device ID of the corresponding transceiver is added to a code value matching with a key value input from the key input unit and the code value is transmitted to the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50.

At this point, the RF transmitting/receiving unit 50 modules the code value containing the device ID, power-amplifies the code value, transmits the code value as the RF signal to the host through the antenna ANT, and receives a response signal containing the device ID from the host.

The RF transmitting/receiving unit 50 analyzes the device ID and determines if the device ID corresponds to the transceiver. When the device ID corresponds to the transceiver, it is determined that the data transmission is completed and the LCD 40 is turned on to display the transmitting/receiving information to/from the host.

As described above, according to the RF transceiver according to the present invention, when the data transmitting/receiving request to/from the object device is detected, the LCD that is a bad influence on the data transmitting/receiving is turned off, after which, when the RF signal transmitting/receiving is completed, the LCD is turned on, thereby providing data transmitting/receiving stability and reliability.

Further, since there is no attenuation and interference of the RF signal, the signal transmitting/receiving can be realized with relatively low power and the quality of the product increases.

In addition, in order to attenuate the noise of radio units, each of the blocks should be shielded. In this case, the product cost increases. However, in the present invention, since the RF signal can be stably transmitted and received without shielding the LCD, the product cost can be reduced.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A system for controlling a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising: a key input unit for detecting a key selection; a memory unit storing control data required for operating the RF transceiver and a code table matching with a key value; a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying operational information of the RF transceiver; a controller for turning off the LCD that is in an on-state when a data transmitting/receiving request is detected from the key input unit and turning on the LCD when the data transmitting/receiving is completed; and an RF transmitting/receiving unit for modulating a transmitting signal, power-amplifying the transmitting signal, transmitting the amplified signal as an RF signal to an object device through an antenna, and receiving a response signal as an RF signal from the object device.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting diode (LED) for displaying an operation state of the RF transceiver in accordance with a control of the controller in a state where the LCD is turned off.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the RF transceiver is a multipurpose remote controller, the memory unit stores a lessened control code table for the object device.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the RF transceiver is a one-way communication type that is designed to only transmit the RF signal, the controller transmits the RF signal in response to a data transmission request in a state where the LCD is turned off, and when there is no transmission request for a predetermined time after the RF signal is transmitted, the controller determines that the RF signal transmission is completed and thus turns on the LCD.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein, when a device ID contained in a response signal from the object device is analyzed and it is determined that the analyzed device ID corresponds to an ID of the transceiver, the controller determines that the RF signal transmitting/receiving is completed and subsequently turns on the LCD.
 6. A method of controlling a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising: determining if a data transmitting/receiving request from a key input unit is detected in a standby mode where a liquid crystal display (LCD) maintains an on-state; converting, when the data transmitting/receiving request is detected, data into a code value and turning off the LCD; modulating the converted code value, power-amplifying the modulated code value, and transmitting the amplified code value as an RF signal; determining if the data transmitting/receiving is completed by analyzing a response signal that is transmitted as an RF signal from an object device; and turning on the LCD when it is determined that the data transmitting/receiving is completed.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, when one or more RF transceivers transmit and receive the RF signal to and from one host, transmitting data containing a device ID of a current transceiver as the RF signal to the host in a state where the LCD is turned off, and turning on the LCD by determining that the data transmitting/receiving is completed when the device ID of the current transceiver is detected by analyzing the device ID contained in a response signal transmitted from the host.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising, when the RF transceiver is a one-way communication type that only transmits the RF signal, transmitting the RF signal in response to a data transmission request in a state where the LCD is turned off, and turning on the LCD by determining that the RF signal transmission is completed when there is no transmission request for a predetermined time after the RF signal is transmitted. 